Please no bashing, as this is my own opinion and not that of ToJ or any other organization.
After being taught Old Testament Religion in college by an atheist I've learned a lot about debates and our religion. I believe that it can be wise in debating an atheist, but only on certain topics, none of which are trying to prove or dis-prove Christianity. Most out spoken atheists have thoroughly studied the Bible and most other works from the same time-line. And, unless you have put in more man hours studying these they will most likely have you beat on research bases. Atheists are very good and debating and vary quickly they go on the offensive and you are put in to a defensive battle, just waiting to lose or draw. So, IMO the best debates with atheists aren't Christian ones, but debates on what they believe on how we became to be what we are today. Most atheists have dismissed any belief systems that require a supreme being, and have taken their belief to a scientific state. So, I've always attacked then on the science they base their beliefs on.
As I studied Engineering at Iowa State I learned that the biggest difference between Scientist and Engineers is that Scientist will input unknown variables to "guess-a-mate" the solution, while engineers require no unknowns they only deal with known values to get the the solution or the solution is unknown. Thus, why Scientists guess at the age of the Earth and they guess at carbon dating. These are not engineering solutions they are using very complex equations and the most finite variable can cause millions of years difference in the age of the Earth. There is tons of this information if you know what to look for on the internet, but the point is that the only real way to succeed in a debate with an atheist is to keep on the offensive and put then in a defensive position.
I also have to view point like Tek where I don't like pressuring people into following my faith. I more follow the path that I don't just act Christian on Sunday in church, but everyday of the week. I try to live my faith every day in the hopes that those who are lost or seeking help will see that you can find true happiness through our faith and that it's nothing to be ashamed of during the week and it's not some Sunday morning ritual we do, because we have to, but because we want to.
